Just wanted to say thank you to those who have stuck with this story for this long. Hitting the 50 mark on chapters is a good feeling, and I've now been able to do it twice, since The Snow Fox's Struggle was the only other story at the moment where I hit that milestone. So while I don't know what the future of my writing here will be like from my recent issues on motivation in the RWBY world, I can at least say this again. Thank you for being supportive of my work, whether it was reading this story, following, favoriting, or reviewing. I appreciate all of it.
Here's chapter 50, everyone.
"Weiss." Ruby gently nudged her partner a bit, both of them on the airship back to Beacon, not mentioning what they had done in the park. "Weiss, we're almost back to Beacon."
"Hmm." The white haired teen hummed, blushing a bit as she thought about how they had kissed.
Ruby frowned in response. Weiss, after they had pulled away from each other in the park hadn't talked much, even though she was happy with the kiss. "Do you… Not wanna talk about it?"
Weiss sighed. "I don't know, Ruby… It happened, and… No, I don't regret it, but this isn't something I know well. We just… We, y'know."
With a nod, Ruby couldn't deny what they did. "We kissed, Weiss… It was unexpected, but I don't want you to just avoid talking to me about it either."
"I'm not avoiding you… I'm just processing it is all." Weiss explained, her own thoughts betraying her as she didn't want Ruby to feel like she didn't enjoy it. "Just, I never looked at girls in that way… It's… New to me."
"It's not as new for me to be honest with you." Ruby blushed, having had a crush on her partner for a couple of years. "I've, uh, known I've liked you for awhile."
Weiss was surprised to hear that, even turning in her seat to face Ruby. "Y-You have? But… Why me?"
"What, did you think I wouldn't like the girl who's been my closest friend for years?" Ruby gave her a small smile, both girls still blushing. "When I found out I was going to be attending Beacon two whole years early… You don't know how happy I was because it meant I would be able to see you every day."
"Ruby… I never knew you felt this way." Weiss replied, her voice softer after learning the truth.
"Well, I mean, Yang would tell me I was being obvious sometimes, but I can't really say. I'm just, I don't know. I guess I'm happy to be able to tell you." Ruby admitted.
Weiss thought about the kiss again, how she felt it wasn't forced, how it was something that she did because she wanted to, and how it was with Ruby. "I'm… Happy you told me too." She smiled back as she leaned in and kissed Ruby's cheek, making the younger girl yelp in surprise. "What? Didn't expect a second kiss?"
When Ruby's saw the slight smirk on Weiss' face, she couldn't help but playfully shove her partner a bit. "Ugh, you are so mean, Wolfy!"
Weiss couldn't hold back the laughter when she heard her partner whining, earning a surprised look from Ruby, who quickly looked happy with how Weiss was able to laugh. "I'm not mean. I'm just able to get you flustered easily."
"Says you. I'm not flustered. That was just a sneak attack." Ruby countered. "I can so get you back for that one and you know it."
"Yes, you could…" Weiss took a second to really take in what she and Ruby were to each other. "Ruby, about what I said… I'm not trying to say I don't want this."
"I know, Weiss. I know." Ruby placed her hand over Weiss', smiling to show her that she wasn't upset about what she had said before. "You still kissed me though." She grinned.
Weiss blushed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah…" She sighed a bit. "I've only ever had boys come up to me and ask me out because of my last name, so be grateful, Ruby Rose."
Ruby snorted, finding it hilarious how Weiss phrased that. "I'm honored that the one and only Weiss Schnee has graced me with a kiss." She said in a mocked Atlas tone.
"Ugh, dork." Weiss crossed her arms.
"Wolfy." Ruby stuck her tongue out.
Weiss couldn't deny how cute she was when doing that. "I'm sorry I've been quiet for awhile, Ruby."
"It's okay. You're talking to me now, and that's what matters." Ruby said, leaning her head on Weiss' shoulder, feeling her partner tense up a bit, so she pulled back. "S-Sorry. Didn't think that wasn't okay."
"I-I didn't say it was unwelcomed, you dolt. I was just a bit startled." Weiss admitted, so in response, Ruby carefully leaned her head on her partner's shoulder again, that time Weiss didn't tense up. "Do you trust me?"
The question was a surprise. "Of course I do, Weiss. Why do you feel like you have to ask me that?"
"It wasn't a joke when I said I'm new to… This. Relationships." Weiss blushed in embarrassment, while Ruby started snickering. "Ruby! I'm being serious!"
Her little outburst was too cute for Ruby to get startled by. "It's just funny because you're the one being a dork now, Wolfy." She snuggled up on her partner, hoping they'd get to Beacon soon. "I'll always trust you, Weiss."
"I just don't want to mess this up…" Weiss admitted softly, looking away and Ruby took note of that.
Ruby pulled herself away for a moment and tapped Weiss' arm to get her attention. Once the white haired teen turned to face her, Ruby leaned in and kissed her cheek, earning a quiet yelp from her partner. "Heh, gotcha back."
"S-Stop that." Weiss was flustered, almost wanting to hide her face, but Ruby leaned in, pressing her forehead on Weiss' again. "R-Ruby?"
"Weiss, I'm not scared or nervous about this. About… You. I trust you even with my life, silly." She closed her eyes. "Call me lame, but you matter a lot to me, and I know you'd never do anything to hurt me."
The white haired teen sniffled, not letting herself cry there.
"So, whatever you choose, I promise I won't cry." Ruby assured.
Weiss knew what she was talking about. To pursue a relationship with her, or to pretend it didn't happen. In the end, Weiss knew she could never pretend it didn't happen. "I want… I want to be happy, and with you I am," She smiled. "So, if you can put up with a Schnee-."
Ruby silenced her with a kiss. They both stayed like that for a few moments, Ruby pulling away and poking her on the forehead. "You put up with me, and I'm a hassle, so I can handle a Schnee any day."
The white haired teen rubbed her forehead, her smile not fading. "I'll hold you to that, Ruby Rose."
"Raven, I'll be honest, the jobs we do are normally not this annoying." Qrow stated, sighing as he and his sister were walking down the streets of Atlas. "We still have no idea where to start, or even info on these guys besides what she told us."
"What? Are you starting to finally feel your age catching up to you to complain this much?" Raven questioning, earning an eye roll from her twin brother. "She's asked us for help, and we accepted. Besides, you're the one who jumped on board when money was mentioned."
"Hey, I didn't say we shouldn't help, and I don't care about the money… That much. But you didn't see what she looked like when she contacted me." Qrow countered, remembering how desperate Lazuria sounded when they first met after being contacted.
"I know enough that desperation is all she has left, but if you think this is a pity party-." Before she could continue, her brother held his arm out to keep her from walking forward.
Qrow groaned. "Look, whatever you feel like saying, drop it. I only said that this isn't gonna be easy, not impossible. And I wasn't saying you were doing this out of pity."
Raven pushed his arm away to keep walking. "This is a lot bigger than just one woman being targeted. Clearly there are others like her, and if some group of people are killing them, then it gives us more reason to deal with these so called Relentless."
"Huh." Qrow dug his hands in his pockets as they walked. "Tell me something. What's making you say that? You know, that we have more of a reason to deal with em, just because they're targeting a small group of… Shifters?"
"Shifters?" Raven repeated, confused a bit.
"Figured we have some kinda code name for what that woman is." Qrow shrugged. "Anyways, back to what I asked. If this isn't pity like you said, why do you care so much?"
Raven sighed. "Willow Schnee is… An idiot, but even so, I have respect for that woman. To learn so much in such little time about her daughter, being…" She lowered her voice. "Someone else's," She took a moment. "Let's just say I'm not about to ignore this, for Willow's sake, and her daughter's."
"Heh, you know, I think you're going soft." Qrow smirked, earning a death glare from his twin, so he laughed to himself. "Eh, relax, will ya. Nothing wrong with helping out a friend."
"I never said that woman and I are friends." Raven said in reference to Lazuria.
"Wasn't talking about the Shifter." Qrow simply replied, Raven knowing exactly who he was talking about then.
"She's not my friend either, you moron." Raven defiantly stated.
Qrow mockingly rolled his eyes, shrugging a bit. "Uh huh. Tell yourself whatever you wanna hear." He knew she wanted to punch him, but he cut her off from speaking. "Before we get into a squabble, do you at least have any ideas on where to start?"
The black haired huntress crossed her arms and started thinking of options. "Reverse tracking isn't an option right now since she's just recently dealt with one, and we probably won't be able to run into one so simply." She said in a quiet tone, not wanting others they pass by on the streets to hear. "Maybe if she shows us where the last one she dealt with is."
"You mean the corpse?" Qrow asked, looking a little unsure about that. "I don't know. These guys may not be good people, but dealing in corpses."
Raven rolled her eyes. "They might have had something on them that we can use to track the rest down, moron. Besides, when were you one to care so much about that kind of thing?"
Qrow shrugged again. "I ain't saying I care much. Just pointing it out is all."
"Whatever. On a job like this, we can't let the thought of a moral choice getting in the way. Get it done is all we need to care about here." Raven pointed out.
"You say that like I'm a child." Qrow fired back. "I'm not an idiot, Raven. I get how serious this is if they're hunting people down."
Raven nodded, both understanding what their mission was. "Then let's stop arguing about this and get her to show us where that last person she dealt with is. If she can even remember."
Qrow sighed. "Maybe give her a bit of a cooldown period. Woman's been through seventeen years of this hell. A day of relaxing wouldn't hurt."
"Getting this done faster will give her years of relaxing over a day." Raven stated. "Besides, Summer should be here today. So she may be able to help us too."
"What's she here for?" Qrow asked.
"Willow's flying back in to Atlas today," Raven looked in the direction of where Willow's home would be. "Gonna have a chat with dear old President Schnee."
"Ha. President Gele more like it." Qrow grumbled. "Nicholas should've never trusted him with that company. But now it makes sense why Summer is gonna be there."
Raven shook her head. "I don't have time to think more about that. We have a job to do, Qrow. So let's get back to her on this." The black haired huntress started to head towards where Lazuria told them she'd be in case they needed to speak with her.
Qrow was about to try and convince her to leave the woman be for the day, but he knew his sister was a hardass and wouldn't listen, so he conceded and followed her.
Willow sighed to herself when the airship she and Summer were on landed. A moment passed, but as she got up from her seat, she felt her friend grab her arm, so she looked down to see her supporting smile. "He's an ass, but you got this."
The white haired woman chuckled lightly, giving her a somber smile in return. "I hope you're not overestimating me here, Summer." The blacksmith got up with her, both walking to the exit of the airship.
Atlas' cold air rushed passed the two women, Willow used to it already, taking it in as she knew the challenge in talking with her husband was what she needed to face. "Sheesh, how do you deal with the cold here so much?"
Willow rolled her eyes. "You've set up shop here before, you dolt. The cold air is nothing."
"To you, maybe! I'm from Patch, woman!" Summer whined as she was starting to shiver a bit. "I should find my temp shop out here and hide in the smelting pot."
"You are overly dramatic for a woman your age." Willow commented as the two walked with their suitcases in hand.
"I'm serious! This place gets cold… And besides, you're probably inside your manor more than outside, so you can't say it's super easy to deal with." Summer countered.
Willow sighed. "Clearly since you didn't know about Weiss' semblance, I was actually outside a lot more than you'd think, watching her train for one, and remember that she enjoys the fresh air, so I'm not about to sit inside while my daughter was out enjoying the breeze when she was younger."
Summer grumbled since she got her there. "Eh, well than that just means you've gotten way more practice with this than me."
"Uh huh." Willow smiled when she saw the car she knew all too well. "Enough whining. Our ride is here." She walked over to the car, watching as Klein stepped out of the front driver door. "Klein, thank you for coming to bring us."
"Why of course, Ma'am. I wouldn't say no to such a request." He politely replied, looking over at Summer. "Ah, Mrs. Rose. And how have you been? Is your smithing business still doing well in Patch?"
"Hey, Klein." The two were on good speaking terms, since years ago Willow introduced them to each other. "Yeah, back home's doing well, and I got a job over at Beacon too on the weekends, so I get to see my little rose, and Willow's snowflake."
Klein nodded. "Congratulations on the job, Mrs. Rose. And thank you for being here for Mrs. Schnee." His eyes turned red for a moment. "That whiny man in the manor has gotten on my nerves recently, and I know you'd be good at kicking him off of his high horse."
Summer laughed, knowing about the butler's personality disorder, which she equated to being possibly his semblance, while Willow simply chuckled. The butler opened the doors for them both, getting their suitcases in the trunk after. "You always know what to say to make me laugh, Klein." Summer remarked as she scooted over in the backseat.
Willow was in the front seat at the moment, thinking about what she would say to Jacques when they got there. Overall, she knew one thing would happen, him 'raising his voice' as he called it, but with her children in mind, she refused to let him intimidate her.
While they did kiss last chapter, this is the chapter where White Rose is now official. So yay for getting that part done, since I've been working on it for some time, and now I can get to work on the major plot of this story.
To JJ- Yup. White Rose is finally here, so I'm glad you're happy with how it happened. And the rioters situation is definitely more of a moment for Weiss than anyone else, since she knows about her dad's BS. The armor is still up in the air, since it's hard to think of her having to put it on each time she changes.
To GoldElite245- Thanks for pointing that out. I kept going back and forth on who would be the one to suggest her not talking, and I guess I messed up on that. So again, thanks. And yes, White Rose has set sail for more to deal with in this story.
I hoped you all enjoyed chapter 50. Remember, reviews are welcomed, but not required. See you all in chapter 51.